Marriage and Family Therapist (Advanced)

Veterans Health Administration • Rocky Hill, CT

3d

About The Position

The Vet Center Senior Counselor provides direct readjustment counseling, outreach, referrals, and follow-up care coordination to eligible individuals, couples, families, and groups. The role also coordinates client care and supports staff professional development by providing expert clinical consultation on complex psychosocial conditions, relationship concerns, and readjustment stress, using evidence-based family systems theory and therapy.

The Senior Counselor independently provides clinical services, supports crisis assessment and treatment planning, coordinates care with interprofessional teams and community providers, and helps connect people contacted through outreach with Vet Center counseling services. The position includes clinical consultation and supervision for other staff, particularly unlicensed staff and trainees working toward licensure, as well as clinical oversight such as chart audits. The counselor documents services, develops and updates individualized counseling plans with outcome measures, and participates in staff development and team-building activities.

This is a permanent, non-virtual position with an ad-hoc telework designation. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some nights and weekends required. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval; awards may be up to $200,000. Permanent Change of Station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Master's or doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from a COAMFTE-approved program, or from a regionally accredited institution; alternatively, a comparable mental health degree that meets the applicable VA qualification standard.
• Full, current, unrestricted state MFT license permitting independent practice of marriage and family therapy.
• For GS-12 qualification, successful evidence-based family therapy training and graduation from a COAMFTE-accredited program, or passage of the AMFTRB examination.
• At least 5 years of post-licensed clinical experience delivering family systems therapy, including at least 1 year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation on complex cases involving individuals, families, or couples using evidence-based family systems theory and therapy.
• Ability to provide crisis intervention, including assessment, safety planning, and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment and family systems theory and therapy.
• Ability to provide family systems therapy addressing Veterans and family members individually and in their interpersonal interactions.
• Ability to provide systemic clinical supervision to unlicensed MFT staff and trainees toward licensure.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Compliance with applicable background and security investigation, pre-employment testing and physical examination, identification, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Responsibilities

• Independently provide readjustment counseling to eligible individuals, couples, families, and groups.
• Provide consultation and support to staff developing crisis intervention strategies, including risk assessment, safety planning, and complex treatment planning.
• Coordinate care with interprofessional team members and leadership, communicate about program and patient issues, and model ethical, professional, and culturally aware practice.
• Serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, Medical Center, Zone, District, national, or community level as appropriate.
• Consult with Vet Center outreach workers to improve recognition of clinical indicators and use of basic interviewing questions.
• Coordinate with Vet Center Outreach Specialists to ensure referrals from community outreach events are handled seamlessly.
• Participate in clinical and administrative oversight during staff meetings as directed by the Vet Center Director.
• Document clinical interactions and services in accordance with policy.
• Establish therapeutic relationships and complete required intake procedures, including assessment of self-harm risk and psychosocial stressors.
• Develop and periodically update individualized readjustment counseling service plans, including therapeutic and psychosocial interventions and outcome measures.
• Provide clinical consultation to staff on assessment, service planning, and coordination with community providers when needs exceed Vet Center services.
• Provide systematic clinical supervision to unlicensed staff and trainees toward licensure, from a family systems theory and therapy perspective.
• Provide clinical oversight, including chart auditing, as outlined by policy.
• Participate in staff meetings designed to promote team building and staff development.
• Perform other duties as assigned that are appropriate to the grade, assignment, and scope of practice.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior